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Bloggers are, in the main, strong advocates of free speech, so it's a shame to see it stiffled by online bullies. Kathy Sierra, author of Creating Passionate Users cancelled her talk at E-tech after receiving threats of a violent and sexual nature. This is how Kathy :

As I type this, I am supposed to be in San Diego, delivering a workshop at the ETech conference. But I'm not. I'm at home, with the doors locked, terrified. For the last four weeks, I've been getting death threat comments on this blog. But that's not what pushed me over the edge. What finally did it was some disturbing threats of violence and sex posted on two other blogs... blogs authored and/or owned by a group that includes prominent bloggers.

There's background, including an interview . The incident has certainly backfired upon those making the threats. It's the number one search term on . And bloggers are rallying to her side. Supporters of Kathy like Robert Scoble, have temporarily suspended their blogs in a show of support while others are discussing the need for a bloggers' code of conduct.

While it's not clear who is responsible Kathy Sierra has said she was disturbed that some of the threats were hosted on blogs authored by or owned by a group that includes some prominent bloggers.

Whoever is responsible, as Kathy says incitement is not protected speech. In his keynote to the conference, Tim O'Reilly, founder of O'Reilly media, extended his sympathies to Kathy. Her participation is certainly missed. This is news from the conference we could all do without.